U.S. patent number 6,224,751 [Application Number 09/293,860] was granted by the patent office on 2001-05-01 for water purifying device with means for indicating exhaustion of the purifying medium.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Brita GmbH. Invention is credited to Erik Fischer, Uwe Hofmann.
United States Patent |
6,224,751 |
Hofmann , et al. |
May 1, 2001 |
Water purifying device with means for indicating exhaustion of the
purifying medium
Abstract
A water purifying device that has a collecting jug for purified
water, in which a funnel with a filter cartridge filled with
purifying medium is fitted in a removable manner, the jug can be
closed at the top with a lid. Grips for removing the lid are
arranged on the lid, and an indicator is provided for indicating
the exhaustion of the purifying medium. The indicator is
inexpensive, easily readable and reliably functioning to show the
state of exhaustion of the purifying medium. The indicator is
secured in an aperture in the top surface of the lid, an indicator
panel of which can be seen externally from above and which, by an
electronic, battery driven circuit, shows only the respective state
of time elapsed, without cooperating with separate signaling.
Inventors: |
Hofmann; Uwe (Heidenrod,
DE), Fischer; Erik (Glashutten, DE) |
Assignee: |
Brita GmbH (Taunusstein,
DE)
|
Family
ID: |
7866133 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/293,860 |
Filed: |
April 16, 1999 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Apr 29, 1998 [DE] |
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198 19 098 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
210/85;
206/459.1; 210/475; 222/189.07; 368/10; 222/23; 210/482; 210/282;
210/232; 210/238 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C02F
1/003 (20130101); C02F 2307/04 (20130101); C02F
2209/445 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
C02F
1/00 (20060101); B01D 027/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;215/230
;206/459.1,459.5 ;210/85,87,232,237,238,282,473-477,482,138
;222/23,30,36,638-641,644,465.1,189.06,189.07 ;368/10 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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39 03 955 |
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Jan 1990 |
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DE |
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0 349 315 |
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Jan 1990 |
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EP |
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2 269 586 |
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Feb 1994 |
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GB |
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95/29131 |
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Nov 1995 |
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WO |
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96/13318 |
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May 1996 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Drodge; Joseph W.
Assistant Examiner: Cecil; Terry K.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dunn; Michael L.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Water purifying device with a collecting jug (1) for purified
water, in which a funnel (6) with a filter cartridge filled with
purifying medium is fitted in a removable manner, said purifying
device being closeable at a top thereof with a lid (9), wherein
means (11,11 ') for removing the lid and means (14, 15) for
indicating the exhaustion of the purifying medium are arranged on
the lid, said means for indicating exhaustion (14, 15) is an
indicator (14) securely affixed on the lid, in an aperture in a top
surface of the lid (12), an indicator panel (15) of which can be
seen externally from above and which, by means of an electronic,
battery driven circuit (18), displays only the time remaining
before exhaustion of said purifying medium, under normal usage of
said water purifying device, said indicator not cooperating with
separate signaling means.
2. Water purifying device according to claim 1, wherein the
indicator panel (15) on a top of indicator (14) is located in the
centre of the top surface of the lid (12), and the means (11, 11')
for removing the lid (9) is arranged in an edge area of the top
surface of the lid (12).
3. Water purifying device according to claim 2 wherein said time
remaining is shown by means of a display (25, 26) visible in the
indicator panel (15), and wherein a flashing light is provided.
4. A water purifying device according to claim 1 wherein the means
(11, 11') for removing the lid (9) is arranged in a rear lid area
(10) in the form of gripping recesses (11, 11') on each side of the
lid.
5. Water purifying device according to claim 4 wherein said time
remaining is shown by means of a display (25, 26) visible in the
indicator panel (15), and wherein a flashing light is provided.
6. Water purifying device according to claim 4 wherein indicator
(14), provided with an upper external flange (21), is embedded in
the top surface of the lid (12) such that indicator panel (15),
adjacent to an external flange (21), lies approximately flush with
the top surface of the lid (12).
7. Water purifying device according to claim 6 wherein a push
button (22), adjacent to the indicator panel (15), is arranged
inside a frame-shaped external flange (21).
8. Water purifying device according to claim 6 wherein said time
remaining is shown by means of a display (25, 26) visible in the
indicator panel (15), and wherein a flashing light is provided.
9. Water purifying device according to claim 1 wherein indicator
(14), provided with an upper external flange (21), is embedded in
the top surface of the lid (12) such that indicator panel (15),
adjacent to an external flange (21), lies approximately flush with
the top surface of the lid (12).
10. Water purifying device according to claim 9 wherein said time
remaining is shown by means of a display (25, 26) visible in the
indicator panel (15), and wherein a flashing light is provided.
11. Water purifying device according to claim 9 wherein a push
button (22), adjacent to the indicator panel (15), is arranged
inside a frame-shaped external flange (21).
12. Water purifying device according to claim 11 wherein said time
remaining is shown by means of a display (25, 26) visible in the
indicator panel (15), and wherein a flashing light is provided.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a water purifying device with a collecting
jug for purified water, in which a funnel with a filter cartridge
filled with purifying medium is fitted in a removable manner and
which can be closed at the top with a lid, wherein means for
removing the lid and means for indicating the exhaustion of the
purifying medium are arranged on the lid.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A water purifying device of the type described hereinabove is
already known from German patent 38 14 683. It is also known from
this that often the consumer and user of such a water purifying
device does not replace the purifying medium in good time. For
example, the ion exchangers often used to have a capacity to purify
approximately 60 to 100 litres of water. In a normal household a
water purifying device or preparation device of the type described
in the introduction can be used perfectly well in a hygienic manner
for a period of, for example, one month with one and the same
purifying means. For reasons of hygiene, however, the purifying
means, for example the ion exchanger or a mixture including it,
should not be in use for very much longer than the lifetime
indicated. The purifying medium should be replaced thereafter. It
would thus be desirable to provide an indication at that time,
showing a time reference, and to be able to replace the purifying
medium in good time.
With previous filter cartridges, and also those of the type
described in the patent described hereinabove, the problem of
ventilation was significant, so a cap-like top part was provided by
means of which the consumer could, at least in a mechanical way, be
given a means for said consumer to recognise when a pre-determined
time had elapsed, that is to say when it is expected that the
purifying medium in the filter cartridge is exhausted. The top
part, configured in a cap-shape, was provided with a perforated
plate, wherein each hole was assigned to a month of the year. The
consumer can place a pointer, for example a stopper attached to a
band, in a specific hole at the beginning of use, in order to later
remind himself of the time when, at the latest, the purifying
medium in the filter cartridge ought to be exhausted.
Disadvantageously, however, it was left to the consumer to place
the stopper in one of the many holes. Disadvantageously, the
stopper could also be knocked out of the previously correctly
specified hole (for example, during use) and then the actual time
for replacement of the filter cartridge was not known.
Tests have also already been carried out replacing these mechanical
means with electronic indicators. A reed switch was built into an
indicator, which switch interacts with a magnet arranged on the rim
of the collecting jug or the like to the effect that each time the
lid is removed, the magnetic field is interrupted and the reed
switch actuated, so a kind of indirect volume measurement,
optionally also linked to a time measurement, can provide
information about the state of exhaustion of the purifying medium.
Disadvantageously, the time remaining until the purifying medium is
exhausted is reduced each time the lid is lifted off and put on,
that is to say the indicator in this test also counts when
movements of the reed switch relative to the magnets take place.
Even when the lid is rotated, unintentional counting can result.
With this test apparatus, the indicator with the reed switch must
also be arranged in operating distance of the magnet. In one
embodiment, fixing of the indicator in the edge of the lid was
provided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to be free of these limitations, the object of the
invention is to improve the water purifying device of the type
described in the introduction to the effect that an inexpensive,
easily recognisable and reliably functioning indication of the
state of exhaustion of the purifying medium is provided.
In accordance with the invention, this object is solved in that the
means for indicating exhaustion is an indicator fitted in an
aperture in the surface of the lid, the indicator panel of which
can be seen from above from the exterior, and which, by means of an
electronic, battery driven circuit, shows only the respective time
elapsed, without cooperating with a separate signalling means.
Without errors caused by irrelevant movements of the lid with
respect to the funnel or the collecting jug, using the novel water
purifying device an indication of the state of exhaustion of the
purifying medium is provided which is solely time-related. The
manufacturer of the purifying medium knows from its composition and
the amount or, for example, the degree of hardness of the water,
the time period during which the purifying medium in the given
filter cartridge has the desired effect. If this is a month, the
indicator according to the novel invention then shows one month,
for example, divided into a plurality of segments in order to
signal to the viewer that a specific and recognisable fraction of
this time has elapsed.
Using the electronic circuit in the indicator, with the water
purifying device according to the invention, there is no dependence
upon mechanical parts and the wear and tear to these, wherein
mechanical timers or shifters already exist which count, dependent
on the opening of the pourer of the collecting jug, and display the
result of this counting. According to the invention this is more
easily and inexpensively solved by electronic means. In addition,
no signalling means separate from the indicator are needed. The
arrangement of the indicator according to the invention is moreover
unrestricted.
With many known water purifying devices, a knob is provided on the
top surface of the lid, mostly at its centre. This is partly used
for ventilation purposes, and partly simply for taking hold of the
lid. In the case of a round lid, its centre is particularly
logical, easily visible and consequently particularly attractive
for the consumer. Many known water purifying devices therefore have
the knob in the middle of the lid. An arrangement of a reed switch
in the middle of the lid is out of the question with older devices,
as the distance from a magnet arranged outside the rim of the
collecting jug would be too great.
According to the invention, by omitting separate signalling means
such as, for example, magnets, and by representing only the time,
the technical limitations described hereinabove can be overcome.
According to the invention it is provided that the indicator panel
fitted at the top of the indicator is located in the centre of the
surface of the lid, and the means for removing the lid from the
funnel and/or the collecting jug are arranged in the area of the
edge of the lid surface. In this embodiment of the invention, the
arrangement of the indicator with its indicator panel in the middle
of the surface of the lid is clearly visible and easily
understandable for the consumer. Any distance of the indicator from
a separate signalling means does not have to be taken into account.
In this embodiment, the knob can be omitted as a means for removing
the lid as differently configured means are provided at the edge
area of the surface of the lid for removing said lid. For example,
the surface of the lid above the funnel, or the upper rim of the
collecting jug, can be configured so as to project. The consumer
can then grip the lid and remove it over the projecting rim. It is
also conceivable to have grip handles projecting alternately from
the rim which the consumer can also take hold of easily or also
find by the sense of touch in order to then remove the lid. On the
one hand, these measures provide practical and easy handling of the
water purifying device which, on the other hand, also has the
indicator panel of the indicator clearly visible in the important
central position.
It is furthermore advantageous according to the invention when the
means for removing the lid is arranged in the rear area of the lid
in the form of gripping recesses on both sides. "Above" and "below"
will be mentioned hereinafter. By this it is understood that water
to be purified is poured into the funnel from above and runs down
below into the collecting jug. To this extent, it is understood
that the base of the collecting jug is below and the lid is
arranged above. In a preferred embodiment, the collecting jug has a
handle at one end, the so-called rear end. Opposite this, that is
to say at the front end, a pourer is arranged which is preferably
provided with a small covering cap. While the user lifts the
collecting jug by the rear handle, purified water flows from the
front pourer. When the lid is fitted, it terminates before the
pourer, and has a rear area which, in the embodiment with the
handle on the rear end of the collecting jug, extends over and
above the handle by a certain amount. In this area of the lid, on
each side of the part integral with the lid, there is located a
gripping recess, which can preferably also continue as far as the
handle area. With or without the handle, in each case the consumer
can take hold of the rear area of the lid using the two gripping
recesses, and by means of these remove the lid from the funnel
and/or the collecting jug. By means of this simple configuration of
the means for removing the lid, the central area thereof is free
for the attachment of the indicator in the manner described
hereinabove.
It is furthermore advantageous according to the invention when the
indicator provided with an upper external flange is embedded
beneath the lid surface such that the indicator panel, adjacent to
the external flange, comes to lie approximately flush with the lid
surface. This arrangement of the indicator provides an attractive
exterior to the whole water purifying device, as the consumer's
first look is directed to the surface where the indicator could be
described as eye-catching. The lid surface can be more or less
large, that is to say the distance from the centre of the lid to
any edge area can be as large as is desired. There is no maximum
effective size with this embodiment of the invention, as a separate
signalling means is not necessary for the signals in the indicator
panel.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a push
button is arranged inside the frame-shaped external flange,
adjacent to the indicator panel. The whole indicator can be
configured so that it is large enough to provide an easily visible
indicator panel and also to provide a push button next to it. Using
the push button, the operating mode can be changed, or the
electronics re-set in a manner known per se. For example, in an
embodiment, after a time cycle has elapsed, the indication can be
terminated so that the consumer is required to change the filter
cartridge, and thereby the purifying medium, and to re-start the
counting by pushing the push button. Preferably, the push button is
therefore provided with the caption "START".
In accordance with the invention, the state of time elapsed can
further be shown by bars, panels or characters visible in the
indicator panel, and a flashing indicator can be provided. It is
advantageous to represent for the viewer the respective time
elapsed at any time in a measurement cycle. In a preferred
embodiment this is done by dividing the time into four parts, each
of 25%. The whole panel is thereby divided into four sub-panels
which appear to the viewer to be present at the beginning of
counting; after a quarter of the time, one quarter disappears,
until after all the time has elapsed, all four panels have
disappeared. A frame surrounding these sub-panels can then flash,
and show the viewer that the purifying medium is now exhausted as
the time which the purifying medium takes to wear out, with normal
usage, has elapsed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further advantages, features and possibilities for application of
the present invention will be evident from the following
description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the
attached drawings. In these is shown, in:
FIG. 1 a cross-section through a water purifying device with the
handle at the back and pourer at the front,
FIG. 2 a side view of the device of FIG. 1, wherein some invisible
edges are shown and recesses for removing the lid are shown in the
rear area of the lid inside the circle shown with dashed lines,
FIG. 3 an enlarged view of the detail in the circle shown with
dashed lines in FIG. 2,
FIG. 4 a plan view of the lid, the pourer and the handle of the
water purifying device of the Figures described hereinabove,
FIG. 5 a cross-section of the indicator in a greatly enlarged
scale,
FIG. 6 a plan view of the indicator in a first indication
condition,
FIGS. 7 to 9 the same view as in FIG. 6, wherein, however, a second
or third or fourth condition is shown on the indicator panel,
FIG. 10 again, the same view as in FIG. 6, wherein, however,
another representation is shown, and the inclined arrow shows the
flashing light, and
FIG. 11 a similar representation as in FIG. 10, wherein all
indications are erased and no indication can be seen at the place
indicated by the arrow.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The water purifying device shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is composed of
plastics and is provided with a collecting jug 1 with a handle 2
arranged on the rear side. On the front side, opposite the handle
2, there is located the pourer 3 of the collecting jug 1, which is
closed by means of a covering cap 4 which is pivotably attached by
means of a horizontal hinge 5. If the user lifts the collecting jug
1 by taking hold of the jug using the handle 2, the covering cap 4
then tips up for pouring the water, and afterwards flaps back down
again into the closed position.
A funnel 6 is removably fitted into the collecting jug 1 on the
upper edge of said collecting jug 1. The funnel 6 narrows downwards
into a sleeve 7 into which a filter cartridge, which is not shown,
can be removably fitted such that water to be purified, poured from
above into the funnel 6, can only pass through the filter cartridge
and flow down, where the purified water, after leaving the sleeve
7, is collected over the base 8 of the collecting jug 1.
At the top, that is to say on the side opposite the base 8, the
funnel 6 is closed by a lid 9. This clearly leaves the pourer 3
free in the area of the covering cap 4, extending instead towards
the opposite, that is to say the rear, side, by a certain amount
over the handle 2, so that there, in the handle area, it forms the
lid handle area 10. Gripping recesses 11, 11' are located on both
sides of this lid handle area. It can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3
how these gripping recesses 11 also extend as far as the handle 2.
The user can, as desired, comfortably lift and remove the lid 9
using these cavity-like gripping recesses 11, 11'. The lid surface
12 has a special surface quality, being, for example, glossy or
matt, in order to give the water purifying device as a whole an
attractive appearance.
Viewed from above, an indicator 14, the indicator panel 15 of which
is clearly recognisable and visible from above, is located in an
aperture 13 in the lid surface 12. This indicator panel 15 is shown
enlarged in FIGS. 6 to 11. It is formed by the window of a housing
16 with side walls and a base which are welded together in a
water-tight manner. The indicator panel 15 is formed by a liquid
crystal display 17, LCD. Control thereof is by means of a circuit,
of which only the printed circuit board 18, PCB, is shown in FIG.
5. The electrical supply is by means of a battery 19 with the aid
of the battery contact 20.
The housing 16 of the indicator 14 is provided at the top with a
frame-shaped external flange 21. This surrounds the indicator panel
15, inclusive of the push button 22, and is approximately flush
with the lid surface 12, as can best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.
In order to provide particularly comfortable handling, a depression
23 is also arranged in the lid handle area 10, for example, for
receiving the thumb of the right hand of the user, to keep the lid
9 tightly on the collecting jug 1 when the water purifying device
is tipped during pouring. A standing ring 24 made from an elastomer
is fitted underneath the base 8 of the collecting jug 1 for the
good stability thereof. Furthermore, in the hatched area shown in
FIG. 1, the handle 2 is provided with a rubber coating.
In operation, the user is advised to press the "START" push button
when the purifying medium in the filter cartridge is used for the
first time. The indication visible in FIG. 6 then appears on the
indicator panel 15. An outer frame 25 can be seen, with a point 26.
The area inside the frame 25 is divided into four parts and
signifies that each bar represents a quarter of the total time
which may elapse until the purifying medium in the filter cartridge
is exhausted. The indication in
FIG. 6 therefore shows four panels, signifying that 100% of the
time for using the purifying medium is available. If this is four
weeks, each bar then represents the period of one week. After one
week, the indication according to FIG. 7 appears. One bar is
absent, and the viewer sees that 75% of the total time for using
the filter cartridge fitted is still available. In order to
increase the awareness of the viewer, or in order to reliably show
that the electronics and the indicator are operating, the point 26
in the corner of the frame can flash.
After two weeks, the indication according to FIG. 8 appears, and
after three weeks, that in FIG. 9.
Only one week of operating time still remains available for the
first filter cartridge, so the user should purchase and store new
purifying medium in a new filter cartridge. After this last week
elapses, the indication according to FIG. 10 appears. The arrow 27
is meant to show that the frame, its roof shaped arrow, shown in
FIG. 10, and the point at the top right all flash at the same time.
In this way, the user is made aware in an intensive manner, that
the filter cartridge must soon be replaced.
Lastly, the indication disappears, according to the illustration in
FIG. 11, so that the indicator panel indicated by the arrow 28
contains no representations. The user knows at the latest now that
he must no longer use the filter cartridge but instead should
replace it with new purifying medium.
* * * * *